Exercise complex including bump ring and platform-type exerciser therein

ABSTRACT

An exercise complex is presented having a bump ring supported a few inches above a smooth surface such as a floor or platform, with user grip handles rigidly connected to the upper side of the bump ring and extending vertically upward a few feet, together with a platform-type play exerciser which rolls easily in any direction on the smooth surface and inside of the bump ring, the user standing, squatting, kneeling, or in any other desired position and moving the play exerciser around the interior portion of the bump ring while steadying himself on the fixed grip handles.

United States Patent [191 Cummins June 25, 1974 [76] Inventor: Alfred B.Cummins, 401 Miles Rd.,

Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:397,235

[52] US. Cl 272/63, 272/57 A, 272/57 .1, 272/DIG. 5, 280/870], 293/62[51] Int. Cl A63b 3/00, B62b 11/00 [58] Field of Search 272/1 R, 57 R,57 A, 57 E, 272/57 J, 63, 70, 70.3, 70.4; 280/8701, 87.02 W, 87.04 A;297/5, 6; 293/62 3,173,826 3/1965 Campbell et al.. 293/62 UX 3,197,2277/1965 Anselmo 280/8701 3,659,844 5/1972 Cummins.... 3,693,998 9/1972Cummins 280/8701 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham AssistantExaminer-R. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Baldwin, Egan, Walling& Fetzer [5 7] ABSTRACT An exercise complex is presented having a bumpring supported a few inches above a smooth surface such as a floor orplatform, with user grip handles rigidly connected to the upper side ofthe bump ring and ex tending vertically upward a few feet, together witha platform-type play exerciser which rolls easily in any direction onthe smooth surface and inside of the bump ring, the user standing,squatting, kneeling, or in any other desired position and moving theplay exerciser around the interior portion of the bump ring whilesteadying himself on the fixed grip handles.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJuuzslsm FIG.

EXERCISE COMPLEX INCLUDING BUMP RING AND PLATFORM-TYPE EXERCISER THEREINBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Educators say that slow learners normallyreach a certain learning level responsive to suitable mental stimuli,after which learning progress levels off and further progress usually isslow. The purpose of the present invention is to encourage creative useof the same due to the fact that the exercise complex presented is veryflexible and adaptable to unprogrammed uses, and this creative physicalactivity seems to stimulate further mental progress of the user.

Additionally, the generally recognized deterioration of leg and bodydevelopment, with increased sports injuries, calls for a flexiblecreative means for self development of muscles and stamina.

The object of the present invention is to provide an exercise complexwherein a bump ring is supported a few inches above a smooth surface,such as a floor or platform, with grip means rigid with the ring on theupper side thereof and extending generally vertically therefrom to alevel a few feet above the smooth surface, together with a casteredplatform-type play exerciser having a generally annular rim and a flathorizontal deck firmly secured in the center of the ring, this assemblyhaving three or more universal swiveling casters secured to theunderside of the platform and assembly and supporting the same so thatit rolls easily in any direction within the bump ring with the rim ofthe play exerciser at a height where it engages the bump ring.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and specification and the essential featuresthereof will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise complex of this inventionshowing the circular play exerciser inside of a circular bump ring andwith two parallel bars rigidly connected on opposite sides of the bumpring and extending to a level where they are easily grasped by a usersupported on the play exerciser;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental sectional view, enlarged, taken along the line2-2 of FIG. 1; while FIG. 3 is a fragmental elevational view taken fromthe near side of FIG. 1, and slightly enlarged to show a modifiedstructure for supporting the parallel grip bars.

The exercise complex comprises a bump ring which is here shown ascircular, although other shapes of ring would be suitable, but thecircular shape is preferred. A strong but light rigid structure for thisring is clearly shown in FIG. 2 as comprising a hollow tube of squarecross section. Means is provided to support this ring a few inches abovea smooth surface such as a floor 11. The means here shown comprises aplurality of legs 12 welded to the underside of the ring 10 and finnlysupporting the ring horizontally parallel to a surface 1 1 and a fewinches, such as 4 or 6 inches, above the surface 11.

Grip means is provided extending upwardly from the ring 10 in positionto be grasped by the user of this invention. As clearly seen in FIG; 1,parallel bar struc-v tures 13 are provided one on each side of the ring10. Each parallel bar structure comprises an inverted generally U-shaperod having a horizontal tOP member 13a and two parallel legs 13bextending vertically downtightly against the legs 13b to hold theparallel rods in different vertical positions relative to the bump ring10. Preferably, but not necessarily, each parallel bar 13 has the legs13b bent laterally at 16 adjacent the top member 13a so as to hold thetop member l3aa few inches laterally displaced from the plane passingthrough the legs 13b. In one form of the invention, the offset portion13c is about 4 inches in length so that if the tubular members 13 arespaced 28 inches apart across the ring 10, then the horizontal topmember 13a when turned inwardly as shown in full lines in FIG. 1 willprovide about 24 inches between the parallel bars, whereas if the offsetportion is turned outwardly, as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1, thenthe parallel bars 13a will be about 32 inches apart. It is obvious thatwith the parallel bars in the full line position of FIG. 1, it is onlynecessary to unscrew the thumb screws 15 slightly and then thehorizontal bars can be reversed to the dot-dash position, after whichthe thumb screws 15 are again tightened.

The exercise complex of this invention is completed by use of casteredplatform-type play exerciser similar to that shown in my U.S. Pat. No.3,693,998, granted Sept. 28, 1972. The essential features of this playexerciser for use in this invention are that it has a generally annularrim l7 and a flat horizontal deck 18 fimrly se: cured centrally of therim and a plurality of universally swiveling casters 19 mounted on theother side of the platform or deck 18 and supporting the play exerciserso that it rolls easily in any direction on the smooth surface 11 insideof the bump ring 10. In the above mentioned patent, the rim 17 is anuninflated automobile tire shoe which is firmly secured to the deck orplatform 18 by a plurality of rope laces 20 which pass through theopposite sides of the tire shoe near the bead thereof and also throughthe platform 18. The platform is of greater diameter than the interiordiame ter of the tire beads so as to form a strong structure.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a brake shoe 21 has a hinge suspension22 at the center of the platform 18 and a brake actuator 23 is normallyheld in inactive position by a spring 24 but the user of the device mayuse his hand or foot to cause the brake to frictionally engage thesmooth floor or other support 11 to control the rolling movement of theplay exerciser. All of this is more thoroughly described in the abovementioned patent.

In one form of this device, the bump ring is about 48 inches indiameter, although this may vary from say about 42 inches to about 72inches in diameter. The play exerciser tire 17 is usually between 24inches and 28 inches in outside diameter. The height of the horizontaltop member 13a of the parallel bars will usually be set from about 36inches to 48 inches above the floor 11. For tall basketball players aseparate set of parallel bars will be required. The legs 12 in thisembodiment were about 4 inches long but the essential dimension is thatthe bump ring 10 should be at a proper height to be engaged by the rim17 of the play exerciser as it rolls about on the floor 11 and thisrelationship is clearly seen in FIG. 2.

A modified support for the parallel grip bars is shown in FIG. 3. Herehelical compression springs 25 are housed inside the four tubularmembers 14, two only being shown. The members 14' are welded to the bumpring as in FIG. 1. The parallel legs 13b of each parallel bar structureterminate in heads 26 which rest firmly upon the upper ends of springs25. The grip bars then provide a resilient resistance to the user. Thisappeals to skiers as the grip bars rise and fall.

It is obvious that this complex may be assembled on a gym floor or thelike as indicated at 11. However, it is within the scope of thisinvention that a separate smooth platform in the position of thesupporting surface 11 might be permanently fixed to the bottom of thelegs 12. However, as herein shown and described, the complex as shownwould use an area four feet square on a gymnasium floor, or an area 6feet square if a larger bump ring 10 were used. This complex isassembled and disassembled in about two minutes and is quickly removedand compactly stored.

This invention is useful for the development of tough, flexible,balanced bodies of athletes in football, basketball, baseball, skiing,socker, golf, tennis, swimming, track and gymnastics, and also forgeneral physical health and stamina. In use, the athlete stands, squats,kneels, or takes whatever position he likes on the play exerciser whenthe device is assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The complete bodytrunk muscle system can be driven in maximum exercise. A complete,exhausting workout is possible in to minutes. The exercise complex ofthis invention is a flexible, multiple service physical workoutimplement. Two of these units side-by-side promote amazing competitivecreativity, such as parallel bar routines, twists, bends, etc. Thiscomplex is a versatile departure from restricted, specific, one-by-oneexercise steps. It was created for a limited space and budget, forcreative workouts for normal bodies. It is not intended or recommendedfor therapy, except under the guidance and control of a professionaltherapist.

Physical education experts who desire to regulate the twisting of theplay exerciser or count the contacts between its rim l7 and the bumpring 10 may fasten suitable standard counters at proper locations onring 10 in position to record such contact engagements.

What is claimed is:

1. An exerciser complex, comprising a bump ring and support means on theunderside thereof for supporting said ring a few inches above a smoothsurface, user grip means rigid with said ring on the upper side thereofextending generally vertically therefrom to a level of a few feet abovesaid smooth surface, and an assembly of a castered platform-type playexerciser inside of said ring of a size to move laterally in said ringand having a generally annular rim and a flat horizontal deck firmlysecured centrally of said rim and at least three universal swivelingcasters secured to the underside of said assembly and supporting thesame so that it rolls easily in any direction on said smooth surfacewith said rim at a height where it engages said ring.

2. An exerciser complex as defined in claim 1, wherein said bump ring issubstantially circular.

3. An exerciser complex as defined in claim 1, wherein said bump ring issubstantially circular and between about 42 inches and about 72 inchesin diameter.

4. An exerciser complex as defined in claim 1, wherein said user gripmeans comprises parallel bars secured to opposite sides of said bumpring.

5. An exerciser complex as defined in claim 1, wherein said user gripmeans comprises parallel bars secured to opposite sides of said bumpring, each of said parallel bars comprising an inverted U-shape rodhaving a horizontal top member and parallel downwardly extending legs atits opposite ends, tubular members one for each leg fixed to said bumpring in position to receive its associated leg telescopingly, andsecuring means on each tubular member engageable with its associated legto vary the height of said U-shape rod.

6. An exerciser complex as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said legsadjacent said top member is bent laterally a few inches, both legssimilar and in the same direction, whereby said U-shape rods may beassembled in their associated tubular members to present said topmembers laterally in either of two directions.

7. An exerciser complex as defined in claim 1, wherein said user gripmeans comprises parallel bars secured to opposite sides of said bumpring, each of said parallel bars comprising an inverted U-shape rodhaving a horizontal top member and parallel downwardly extending legs atits opposite ends, tubular members one for each leg fixed to said bumpring in position to receive its associated leg telescopingly, andincluding spring means in each of said tubular members operativelyassociated with said downwardly extending leg received therein andeffective to provide a resilient resistance in a vertical direction to auser holding said grip bars.

8. An exerciser complex as defined in claim 1, wherein said rim of saidplay exerciser is an automobile tire shoe.

1. An exerciser complex, comprising a bump ring and support means on theunderside thereof for supporting said ring a few inches above a smoothsurface, user grip means rigid with said ring on the upper side thereofextending generally vertically therefrom to a level of a few feet abovesaid smooth surface, and an assembly of a castered platform-type playexerciser inside of said ring of a size to move laterally in said ringand having a generally annular rim and a flat horizontal deck firmlysecured centrally of said rim and at least three universal swivelingcasters secured to the underside of said assembly and supporting thesame so that it rolls easily in any direction on said smooth surfacewith said rim at a height where it engages said ring.
 2. An exercisercomplex as defined in claim 1, wherein said bump ring is substantiallycircular.
 3. An exerciser complex as defined in claim 1, wherein saidbump ring is substantially circular and between about 42 inches andabout 72 inches in diameter.
 4. An exerciser complex as defined in claim1, wherein said user grip means comprises parallel bars secured toopposite sides of said bump ring.
 5. An exerciser complex as defined inclaim 1, wherein said user grip means comprises parallel bars secured toopposite sides of said bump ring, each of said parallel bars comprisingan inverted U-shape rod having a horizontal top member and paralleldownwardly extending legs at its opposite ends, tubular members one foreach leg fixed to said bump ring in position to receive its associatedleg telescopingly, and securing means on each tubular member engageablewith its associated leg to vary the height of said U-shape rod.
 6. Anexerciser complex as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said legsadjacent said top member is bent laterally a few inches, both legssimilar and in the same direction, whereby said U-shape rods may beassembled in their associated tubular members to present said topmembers laterally in either of two directions.
 7. An exerciser complexas defined in claim 1, wherein said user grip means comprises parallelbars secured to opposite sides of said bump ring, each of said parallelbars comprising an inverted U-shape rod having a horizontal top memberand parallel downwardly extending legs at its opposite ends, tubularmembers one for each leg fixed to said bump ring in position to receiveits associated leg telescopingly, and including spring means in each ofsaid tubular members operatively associated with said downwardlyextending leg received therein and effective to provide a resilientresistance in a vertical direction to a user holding said grip bars. 8.An exerciser complex as defined in claim 1, wherein said rim of saidplay exerciser is an automobile tire shoe.